How to make the most heavenly strawberry angel delight for dessert. Easy, luscious recipe with angel food cake, Dream Whip, and cream cheese.
It's no secret that I love a good no bake dessert, especially when it involves strawberries. Strawberries and cream cheese are just so delicious.
We've made strawberry lush with vanilla wafers, and we've made strawberry delight with a pecan nut crust. Now we're making strawberry delight with angel food cake.
While I just picked up an angel food cake in my grocery store's bakery, you can make homemade angel food cake; or use a mix.
This angel delight is ever so creamy. And the strawberries mixed with a homemade glaze really take this recipe above and beyond. It'll be a hit wherever you decide to share it, whether a family get together or church potluck.
WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?
If you’d rather skip all of my no bake dessert making tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the angel delight dessert recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.
LET'S TALK INGREDIENTS:
Cream Cheese: I recommend using a full fat cream cheese vs. light or 1/3 fat cream cheese. Full fat will really add to the creaminess and flavor of this dessert.
Dream Whip: While I prefer to use Dream Whip, I've had readers tell me they've made this type of filling with Cool Whip too.
Strawberries: I make the strawberry glaze with fresh strawberries. You could very likely use frozen berries, but it may not turn out quite right as frozen will add more water to the mix.
Angel Food Cake: You can get an already baked cake at your grocery store's bakery. You can also make it homemade or grab a box mix.
Remember, all of the ingredients and ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.
KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU'LL NEED:
Medium Sauce Pan – for making the strawberry sauce.
Whisk and Heat-Resistant Spatula
Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer – for mixing up the creamy Dream Whip filling.
HOW TO MAKE STRAWBERRY ANGEL DELIGHT FROM SCRATCH
I prefer to start by gathering every single ingredient I need and prep anything that needs prepping. That way it's easier to work down through every step of the recipe more quickly and efficiently.
Be sure to get out your cream cheese ahead of time, so it can soften. Then wash, hull, and slice the berries, so they're ready to go.
HOW TO MAKE STRAWBERRY PUREE
I've had a lot of readers over the years ask how to make strawberry purée. All you need to do for this recipe is put maybe 8-12 strawberries, depending on the size of your berries, into a blender and use the purée setting.
Making purée is just crushing those berries down into liquid form; and a blender is the best way to do that.
COOK THE STRAWBERRY SAUCE…
- Whisk corn starch and water together in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup.
- Add the corn starch mixture together with the sugar in a medium saucepan.
- Mix in the strawberry purée.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over low to medium heat, constantly stirring with a spatula. Once the mixture boils, cook for 3 to 5 more minutes, or until your sauce thickens up and turns a deep ruby red.
Then remove your strawberry sauce from the heat and allow it to cool.
I like to put mine in the freezer, stirring occasionally, while I go about making the filling and preparing my crust.
MAKE THE DREAM WHIP FILLING…
- Add the Dream Whip, milk, and vanilla to a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk them together, according to package directions, 'til the mixture begins to form soft peaks. It'll take about 4 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whip the cream cheese well. Then add both the cream cheese and the powdered sugar to the Dream Whip mixture.
- Whisk for about 3 to 5 minutes, or 'til smooth and creamy.
LAYER STRAWBERRY DELIGHT WITH ANGEL FOOD CAKE…
Once everything is ready, you're ready to layer your dessert together.
- Slice the angel food cake into 1-inch cubes, and spread those cubes in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
- Spread the creamy Dream Whip filling over the angel food cake.
- Once the sauce has cooled, mix the sliced strawberries into the sauce.
- Then spread that wonderful strawberry sauce over the Dream Whip filling.
At this point, you're ready to cover your dessert, and chill it in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible.
LET'S TALK ABOUT CRUST OPTIONS AND VARIATIONS
There are several different crust options you can choose from for a strawberry no bake dessert.
- Graham cracker crust
- Pecan Sandies crust – Make it like you would a graham cracker crust.
- Vanilla Wafer crust – Made like a graham cracker crust vs. just placed in the pan.
- Golden Oreo crust – Again, like a graham cracker crust.
- Pound cake – Slice up chunks of pound cake to layer in the bottom of the pan.
- Pecan nut crust – Or buy a store bought crust and press pecans into it.
- Store bought crust
- Homemade single pie crust
If you're going to make a more complicated crust than just angel food cake, be sure to make your crust ahead of time, so it's all set and ready to go. From that point on, there will be no baking necessary.
FAQ:
Yes, you can easily make this a gluten-free dessert by making a gluten-free angel food cake or using a gluten-free angel food cake mix (which I have seen at Aldi). Be sure to check all ingredient labels to make sure everything you use is truly gluten-free.
Yes. It needs to sit in the fridge at least 4 hours before eating, or overnight if possible. Although it will keep for 2-3 days, I wouldn't make it more than a day in advance because the berries can start to fade in color and not look so pretty.
Cover it with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container, and store it in the fridge. If you use a 9×13 dish with a lid, you are good to go.
Yes, you can freeze it. Just be sure it’s in a sealed container or covered really well so it doesn’t get freezer burn. It should last up to 6 months in the freezer.
MORE STRAWBERRY DESSERTS:
- Strawberry Shortcake with Biscuits
- Strawberry Jello Pie
- Strawberry Cupcakes with Berry Filling
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
- Strawberry Jello Cake
- Strawberry Krispie Treats
GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE
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Strawberry Angel Delight Lush Dessert Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 tablespoons corn starch
- 1/4 cup water
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup strawberry purée*
- 2 envelopes Dream Whip 1 box
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 10 ounces angel food cake
- 6 cups sliced strawberries
Instructions
- Whisk corn starch and water together in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup.
- Add the corn starch mixture together with the sugar in a medium saucepan.
- Mix in the strawberry purée.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over low to medium heat, constantly stirring with a spatula. Once the mixture boils, cook for 3 to 5 more minutes, or until your sauce thickens up and turns a deep ruby red.
- Then remove your strawberry sauce from the heat and allow it to cool. I like to put mine in the freezer, stirring occasionally, while I go about making the filling and preparing my crust.
- Add the Dream Whip, milk, and vanilla to a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk them together, according to package directions, 'til the mixture begins to form soft peaks. It'll take about 4 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whip the cream cheese well. Then add both the cream cheese and the powdered sugar to the Dream Whip mixture.
- Whisk for about 3 to 5 minutes, or 'til smooth and creamy.
- Slice the angel food cake into 1-inch cubes, and spread those cubes in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
- Spread the creamy Dream Whip filling over the angel food cake.
- Once the sauce has cooled, mix the sliced strawberries into the sauce.
- Then spread that wonderful strawberry sauce over the Dream Whip filling.
- Cover and chill it in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible, before serving.
Very easy recipe. It was very delicious.
Thanks, Dodie! I’m glad you liked it!